2026 Gosport Borough Council election

2026 Gosport Borough Council election

7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)

14 out of 28 seats to Gosport Borough Council
15 seats needed for a majority
 
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative Labour
Last election 15 seats, 36.7% 11 seats, 43.9% 2 seats, 15.1%
Current seats 13[1] 11 2

 
Party Reform UK Independent
Last election 0 seats, 0.8% 0 seats, 0.5%
Current seats 1 1

Incumbent Leader

Peter Chegwyn
Liberal Democrats
No overall control[a]



The 2026 Gosport Borough Council election will be held on 7 May 2026, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom being held on the same day, to elect 14 of 28 members of Gosport Borough Council in Hampshire, England.[2]

Summary

Background

In 2024, the Liberal Democrats retained control of the council.[3]

Council composition

After 2024 election Before 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats
Liberal Democrats 15 Liberal Democrats 13
Conservative 10 Conservative 11
Labour 2 Labour 2
Independent 0 Independent 1
Reform UK 0 Reform UK 1
Vacant 1 Vacant 0

Changes 2024–2026:

  • April 2024: Maggie Morgan (Conservative) dies – by-election held July 2024[4]
  • July 2024: Jonathan Brown (Labour) gains by-election from Conservatives[5]
  • September 2024: Alan Durrant (Labour) dies – by-election held November 2024[6]
  • November 2024: Lesley Meenaghan (Conservative) gains by-election from Labour[7]
  • November 2025: Bob Maynard (Liberal Democrats) dies – by-election held January 2026[8]
  • January 2026:
    • Paul Carter (Reform) gains by-election from Liberal Democrats[9]
    • Kirsten Bradley (Liberal Democrats) leaves party to sit as an independent[10]

Election result

2026 Gosport Borough Council election[1]
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Liberal Democrats 6
  Conservative 5
  Labour 0
  Reform UK 1
  Independent 1
  Green 0

Incumbents

Ward Incumbent councillor Party Re-standing
Alverstoke Kevin Casey Conservative
Anglesey Philip Raffaelli Conservative
Bridgemary Stephen Hammond Liberal Democrats
Brockhurst & Privett Robert Hylands Liberal Democrats
Elson Sue Ballard Liberal Democrats
Forton Mervin Bradley Liberal Democrats
Grange & Alver Valley Jonathan Brown Labour
Harbourside & Town June Cully Labour
Hardway Jamie Hutchison Liberal Democrats
Lee East Graham Burgess Conservative
Lee West Dan Hayes Conservative
Leesland & Newtown Dawn Kelly Liberal Democrats
Peel Common Stephen Philpott Conservative
Rowner & Holbrook David Herridge Liberal Democrats

Candidates

References

  1. ^ Liberal Democrat minority.
  1. ^ a b "Gosport Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Elections and voting". Gosport Borough Council. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Gosport result - Local Elections 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  4. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Call me St Ishmaels". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Grange and Alver Valley Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  6. ^ Davey, Matt (9 September 2024). "Council flies flags at half-mast after death of 'greatly missed' councillor". Daily Echo. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Harbourside and Town Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  8. ^ Needs, Noni (27 November 2025). "Tributes pour in after sudden death of councillor". Daily Echo. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Bridgemary Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  10. ^ Dalgleish, William (19 January 2026). "Hampshire town mayor quits Lib Dems to serve as independent". Daily Echo. Retrieved 7 February 2026.